Newly discovered rarity here
En.N | California, USA | 12/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At first I thought this Great Performances reissue of Otto Klemperer's Mozart symphony recordings was just another repackaging by EMI of music that was already in my collection. But then a few words on the track listing told me otherwise.
In 1956, Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orchestra recorded the second album in what was planned to be a major collection of Mozart symphony records, the Symphonies #38 "Prague" and #39. This monaural recording was issued to critical acclaim and Klemperer's Mozart sessions continued, but beginning with the next, the Symphonies 25 and 40, the master tapes were done in stereo. Commercially in that era, having the #38 and #39 in mono just would not do, so in 1962, EMI and Klemperer redid the #38 and #39 in stereo.
The original performance was then deleted from the catalogues and forgotten by EMI, but not by many who admired Klemperer's music-making, preferred the earlier performances, and who cherished their now rarely-found LPs of the original 1956 recordings.
The current Great Performances reissue resurrects half of that original issue. To my great surprise, the Symphony #39 turns out to have been originally master-taped in STEREO, the stereo tape apparently recently rediscovered by EMI in its vaults; this seems to be EMI's justification for including it in this new reissue. It was done in fine stereo sound; I'm glad to hear it this way for the first time, and happy to have it in my collection, though Klemperer "completists" may well balk at having to buy the entire set to get a "new" version of this one performance. Perhaps, as in the case of Klemperer's first (and famous) 1955 EMI record of the Beethoven Symphony #7, EMI will issue the 1956 stereo Mozart #39 separately some day. But I decided not to take the chance, in case they don't!
I do regret that the 1956 recording of the Symphony #38 isn't included; apparently EMI didn't turn up a stereo master tape of that one. Also I regret that EMI could not find space for Klemperer's recording of Mozart's #36 "Linz", which was originally in stereo and an integral part of the collected view of Mozart by a great (perhaps THE greatest) conductor of the twentieth century."
Perfect Mozart
unhappy buyer | 04/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This collection is worth the price just for the first six minutes of CD #2, the most perfect Mozart ever set down on record. Listen and learn what Mozart is all about, and why conductors matter.
The last track of CD #2 is also a knockout
Excellent sound quality for early 1960 recordings.
Was Otto Klemperer (the father of Werner Klemperer, the actor who played Col Klink on Hogan's Heroes) the greatest conductor of the 20th Century? There is good case for "yes". There is better case that Otto was the greatest conductor ever recorded because Celebidache refused to be recorded until very late in life.
Bottom line: Mozart as good at it gets, and a decent value-- almost 3 hrs of music on 2 CDs.
After you get curious about Otto's performances, try his 1951 mono CD of Mahler's Symphony #2, one of the greatest performances ever recorded, and hands down the best ever badly recorded.
"
Return of old favorites!
John N. Taylor | Palm Desert, CA, USA | 05/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had most of these performances on LP when they came out. I think I learned to love Mozart best through Klemperer's recordings.
Time has not dimmed their brilliance and the sound is superb for their vintage.
Yes - he is slower sometimes but his control over the orchestra and the details that this brings out is revalatory. Dividing the violins was also Klemperer's chosen arrangement and it pays such dividends with Mozart.
I know these are not "authentic" but who cares. This is Mozart playing and conducting of the best calibre. I only hope that the rest of the symphonies he recorded will become available again soon.
If you are new to Klemperer's Mozart - try these you will not be disappointed."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1